Contouring sanding pad

ABSTRACT

The contouring sanding pad works to sand irregular surfaces, including but not limited to automobile surfaces. It is made using thin flat flexible material such as stainless steel and a pressure dispersal system. The pressure dispersal system is attached superiorly to a pressure source, which can include, but is not limited to a handle; and inferiorly, to said flexible material, where pressure is evenly distributed throughout the pad, simultaneously conforming to all surface types and shapes. This technology is superior to existing sanders in that it doesn&#39;t require mental concentration or physical adjustments to sand rounded, irregular, or uneven surfaces simultaneously, maximizing productivity. The contouring sanding pad is versatile in its various forms, shapes, sizes, and adaptability. Its components can be reconfigured in terms of materials and structure. The contouring sanding pad can be used manually or attached to power tools. It automatically conforms and continually self-adjusts to surfaces.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The contouring sanding pad pertains to but is not limited to the automotive industry and industries, which require the use of a sanding tool. A regular sanding pad is straight and has no potential to bend easily, but my invention bends and conforms automatically. So-called adjustable pads require manual adjustments, which cause slow-down in production, since one must stop to adjust the sanders' parts.

The current sanding pad does not conform to changing surface areas. If there is a rounded or irregular area, then the current sanding pad will cut the high area too much and the low area too little. My invention adds the mechanism needed to allow the pad to cut high and low areas, or irregular and rounded surfaces, evenly at the same time. It allows a person to apply even pressure effectively.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE CONTOURING SANDING PAD

The objective of the invention is to provide a contouring sanding pad that automatically conforms to a surface as it's being used. When one takes on the task of sanding surfaces that curve or that are uneven, then he or she runs the risk of sanding too deeply on rounded or irregular surfaces. Automatically conforming to the high and low spots, or irregularities of a surface simultaneously, my invention, the contouring sanding pad, is designed to sand all surfaces evenly without adjustments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a typical contouring sanding pad.

FIG. 2 is a top, angled view, so that it depicts a three-dimensional view.

FIG. 3 is one example of how the elements of the contouring sanding pad can be reconfigured to make it more versatile for custom jobs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a contouring sanding pad that conforms to the shapes of a surface as it's being used. The components consist of a stainless steel pad 1, two outer pivot arms at each end 2L & R and 5L & R, two inner pivot arms on each side 4L & R and 3L & R, an inner support bracket 6, and a light-weight handle 7 (or interchangeable pivoting accessory if attached to a power sander, which could be, but would not be limited to air or electric power). The pivot arms and brackets are comprised of steel. All the components listed as part of my invention include but are not limited to the materials of which they are comprised. Measurements of the aforementioned components may vary depending on the desired size of the tool. Any connections described in this application may include any known adhesives or connectors. The steel pad 1 is at the base. The pressure dispersing system, composed of steel pivot arms 2L & R, 5L & R, 3L & R, and 4L & R attaches to the top of the steel plate. Four outer pivot arms, two at each end 2L & R and 5L & R, connect to the top of the steel plate and run parallel along the length, each outer arm connecting to an inner pivot arm 3L & R and 4L & R respectively, which also extend parallel along the length toward the center, but stop short, leaving a flexible center. The support bracket 6 connects to the tops of the inner pivot arms 3L & R and 4L & R, running parallel along the length and centered at the top. The lightweight handle 7 (or said accessory for reconfiguration) attaches to the top of the support bracket and is also centered. My self-developed pressure dispersing system allows for pressure from a pressure source, whether manual or power, to be applied to the sanding pad, flexing the steel plate in a straight line. The pressure-dispersing device on the straight pad converts applied pressure from the source to the base of the system, which automatically distributes this pressure throughout the flexible steel plate until the pressure is even throughout the pad. The invention can be made using a thin flat flexible material, including but not limited to stainless steel, and a pressure system similar to that of windshield wiper blades. The pressure dispersal system has to be attached to a pressure source connection, which could include but is not limited to a handle or power tool accessory. The pressure dispersal system then connects to the thin flat flexible material at the bottom, to which abrasive material would be affixed. The shapes, sizes, and configurations of the components of this invention could vary. For similar function, for example, a rounded surface at the base of the contouring sander could be used. For flexibility with concave and/or convex surfaces, a material, which includes but is not limited to memory foam could be added and used in varying combinations with or without other components. The current sanding pad does not conform to changing surface areas. A regular sanding pad is too rigid and does not have the flexibility to automatically conform to surfaces. The current sanding pads that can adjust require the inconvenience of stopping a job to manually readjust, or mentally concentrating constantly to adjust applied pressure to changing surfaces. My invention, the contouring sanding pad is designed to avoid disruptions, thereby maximizing productivity in terms of quality and time efficiency.

LIST OF COMPONENT PARTS FOR ALL FIGURES

-   1. Stainless Steel Pad -   2 L & R. Outer Pivot Arms -   3 L & R. Inner Pivot Arms -   4 L & R. Inner Pivot Arms -   5 L & R. Outer Pivot Arms -   6. Inner Support Bracket -   7. Handle/Accessory Attachment -   8. Memory Foam 

1. The contouring sanding pad automatically conforms to rounded, uneven, and irregular surfaces as it's being used, without any manual adjustments, thereby preventing errors in cutting while maximizing time, efficiency, and productivity.
 2. The efficiency of this invention is dependent upon the unique pressure dispersal system devised of two outer pivot arms, two intermediate pivot arms and a support bracket, which allows pressure to be evenly dispersed to rounded, uneven, or irregular surfaces simultaneously.
 3. The versatility of the contouring sanding pad is unsurpassed as its components may be reconfigured in terms of materials, shapes, sizes, and adaptability to be connected to power tools, including but not limited to air and electric power, as well as to be used manually.
 4. The contouring sanding pad has a unique ability to conform to limitless kinds of surfaces and continually self-adjusts automatically as the surface being sanded is changing, without adjustments mechanically to the tool or without adjustments in force application.
 5. This innovative technology is superior in both quality and craftsmanship to existing sanders in that it takes neither mental concentration nor physical adjustments to sand rounded, uneven, or irregular surfaces simultaneously, thereby maximizing productivity, time, and efficiency.
 6. A contouring sanding pad for removing particulate from a work piece in which the surface of the work piece is non planar, comprising: the centrally positioned plate, said plate being generally rectangular; outer pivot arms, said outer pivot arms being attached to said central plate and extending outwardly from the remote ends thereof to the left and right respectively, said pivot arms supporting pads with abrasive material, and being sufficiently flexible to conform to the surface contours of the work piece; inner pivot arms, said inner pivot arms extending from said central plate to a remote position on each said outer pivot arm; said outer pivot arms adopted to preloads said outer pivot arms to thereby bias each inner pivot arm toward the surface of the work piece; a handle or accessory attachment on said work piece to permit the user of said contouring sanding pad to be manipulated by the user. 